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Patience in Trials: How to Deal with Negativity
6-18-2014
It’s official: I am often distressed.
The more the countries in the East burn and get stained with shed blood, the more indignant and emotional rhetoric from fellow Muslims traverses my eyes and ears.
It is now almost virtually impossible to avoid the stinging and scathing words of nay-saying armchair critics who do nothing to hide their irritation at the globally-scattered antics of their brothers in faith.
They are everywhere, but most of all, they are present within any family dwelling in one of the many Muslim countries that are awash with frequent strife, civil war or political unrest.
With the rise of immigration, globalization and relocation, as the boundaries that initially defined and differentiated (so-called) ‘Muslim’ and ‘non-Muslim’ countries and cultures get increasingly blurred, the question marks are only increasing.
But so is the inflammatory, indignant and often abusive anti-Muslim rhetoric that follows every ‘explosive’ new piece of breaking news (pun intended).
I don’t have answers. I do not know why Muslims are killing each other. I do not even know who is upon the haqq, and who is not. I am probably just as confused as anyone else.
But what I do know is, that ‘Muslim bashing’ following each incident of violence, sans any positive discussion, truly stresses me out.
Any indignant rant (written or verbal) that only highlights the sins, crimes or faults of a people or system, without proposing solutions or remedial actions, is to me, purposeless “banter” that I strive to avoid.
Especially when it comes from a person who does next to nothing to contribute to the removal of ills in their own communities, albeit on a minuscule scale.
Allah Knows the Distress of the Heart
It seems that the more every Tom, Dick and Harry expresses their opinions nowadays (blogs, and round-the-clock talk shows on 24/7 news channels being prime examples), the more laypeople are expected to become desensitized to these routinely-repeated rants.
“Get over it, already.”
“You’re too sensitive...”
“Why can’t you just ignore what people say and don’t let it affect you?”
It is considered a weakness if one gets affected by verbal negativity. The commonly expected reaction to negative rhetoric is, “People say what they say, you just have to develop a thick enough skin to go on living your life without getting affected.”
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) faced many a distressful and painful situation in his life, especially after he started his mission as a Prophet of Allah.
It is comforting for me to know that, despite being a Prophet of Allah, he was not immune to feeling pain when people verbally antagonized him.
I find it even more comforting to know, when I recite the Quran, that Allah reassured Prophet Muhammad time and again via Divine revelation (“wahye”), that He knew of the distress he felt at hearing negative words:
{We do indeed know how your heart is distressed at what they say.} (15:97)
If the Prophet, being human, could get affected by mere words uttered by people, how can I be spared a similar but lesser turmoil?
Turning to Allah
I have no idea why it is becoming more and more difficult for me to sit in the company of chronic complainers and naysayers, who routinely bash Muslims, Muslim governments, and certain infamous Muslim factions that believe in ideologies that they do not agree with, without doing anything positive to contribute towards improving the whole “mess” that the Muslim ummah is in - beyond catering to the basic needs of their own homes and immediate families.
By Allah, there are times when, after hearing someone’s negative talk, I look up at the sky to seek help from Allah, and to beg Him to enable me to remain steadfast upon His Deen, as this verse of the Quran comes to my mind:
{We see the turning of your face (for guidance) to the heavens..} (2:144)
Prophet Muhammad would look up at the skies too, when he wanted Allah to guide him during difficult circumstances.
Patiently Waiting for Allah’s Command
{Now await in patience the command of your Lord: for verily you are in Our eyes.} (52:48)
It is part of our faith to believe that relief from trials comes only when Allah’s decree and command comes to pass, and that these trials and difficulties are a result of our own sins and transgressions.
While it is certainly very grieving to witness the frequent incidents of the killing of innocents in scattered pockets of violence across the world, we have to remember that the oppression and humiliation faced by the current era of Muslims, in particular, is a result of their disobedience of Allah and His Messenger, which is why acting upon the following two points is very important, for us all:
Praising Allah
Besides patiently waiting for relief, praising Allah at night by engaging in tasbeeh and other adkhar (remembrances uttered via the tongue), especially by reciting the Quran in supererogatory prayer, is the second step or means of dealing with negativity that comes our way:
{And celebrate the praises of your Lord while you stand. And for part of the night also praise Him,- and at the retreat of the stars.} (52:48-9)
Seeking Forgiveness
{Patiently, then, persevere, for the Promise of Allah is true. And ask forgiveness for your fault, and celebrate the praises of your Lord in the evening and in the morning.} (40:55)
Patience and remembrance of Allah at designated times during the 24-hour day should be accompanied by seeking Allah’s forgiveness for our mistakes, sins and transgressions.
This is because, as I said already, the Quran tells us that the trials that befall us are because of what our own hands have sent forth.
Remaining Firm and Steadfast upon Faith
Nowadays, confusions reign supreme, as opinions and reactions to trials and tribulations go viral on a public and massive scale. There is often pressure to conform to a new, unjust law, or to take sides between two leaders or groups who are fighting for power, or to condemn a seemingly innocent victim of oppression, or to publicly decry and place blame on someone for a supposed ‘offense’ that might not even be considered an offense in Islam to begin with (such as publicly condemning homosexuality).
Yet, many a time, sensationalized news is mere propaganda, regulated and regurgitated just to manipulate the common masses to react in a way that serves to benefit the political agenda of a few behind-the-scenes, power-hungry ‘players’.
{So patiently persevere, for verily the promise of Allah is true. Nor let those shake your firmness, who have (themselves) no certainty of faith.} (30:60)
Along with turning to Allah when facing negative statements and rants spewed forth by people, therefore, it is very important to not let oneself get demoralized from practicing the Deen steadfastly, especially its obligations, because of the way some other Muslims are acting.
One should never let the erroneous actions of some Muslims, propagated actively by media, allow their faith in Islam itself, or its practice, to get affected or undermined.
We should recall that judging is for Allah to do on the Day of Judgment. As for ourselves, we have to hear and obey His commands, and propagate the correct teachings of Islam as much as we can, no matter how difficult.
Not Obeying Sinners & Ingrates
The confusing chaos that the Muslims of our ummah currently find themselves in, should not result in Muslims acting upon the advice of those (a person or a group) who are openly sinful or ungrateful of Allah, no matter how outwardly sincere, well-educated, and financially successful they might be:
{Therefore be patient with constancy to the command of your Lord, and do not follow the sinner or the ungrateful one among them.} (76:24)
The whole purpose behind being “tested” is for Allah to know who sticks to the Deen no matter how difficult and illogical it might seem, and who goes astray.
The inner dissensions, rampant crimes and killings, moral corruption, economic & educational backwardness, and political strife that Muslim countries are embroiled in today, are as much a trial from Allah, as they are a punishment for the majority of Muslims having given up obeying Allah and His Messenger above all else.
In order to pass this trial, Muslims must remember not to obey the advice of those who are openly working against the progression and victory of Islam.
Conclusion
To sum up, in order to face the humiliating and distressing trials and tribulations that we face as an ummah today, we must turn to, remember and praise Allah during the day and night, seek His forgiveness for our sins, remain steadfast upon doing righteous actions, practice patience, wait for Allah’s decree (for relief and aid), and not heed or obey the advice of sinful ingrates (either those among us, or non-Muslims).
Besides these proactive steps, we must scrupulously avoid verbally ‘bashing’ other Muslims, or sitting in gatherings that breed nothing but more negativity.
If necessary, crimes and open transgressions of Islam must be condemned in general terms when they occur, but with composed discretion and the use of wise words.
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